Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with the Ohangwena Region of the Republic of Namibia in the areas of infrastructure, transportation, energy, and other key sectors to promote sustainable development.
The Governor made this commitment during a courtesy visit by the Regional Governor of Ohangwena, Mrs. Kadiva D. Hamutumwa, at the Official Residence of the Deputy Governor on Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu described the engagement as a step toward renewed African solidarity and self-determination, stressing that the continent’s future must be shaped by its people.
“Our destiny as Africans must be determined by us, not by outsiders. We must work together, as Europe has done through the European Union,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu recalled Nigeria’s historic role in promoting African unity, noting that the country hosted students from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in the early 1980s as part of its continental integration efforts.
He lamented that such strong bonds had weakened over the years, urging African nations to rebuild trust and cooperation for collective progress.
Highlighting Lagos State’s development strides, Sanwo-Olu said his administration had made significant investments in urban transport infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population.
He listed the establishment of intra-city rail lines, electric ferries, and maternal and child care centres, as well as the development of industrial and logistics hubs, as examples of Lagos’s commitment to innovation and economic resilience.
In her remarks, Governor Hamutumwa said her delegation’s visit was aimed at learning from Lagos’s success in commerce, innovation, and infrastructure development, adding that Ohangwena’s goal over the next five years is to become Namibia’s economic and logistics hub.
“Our region is strategically positioned to serve as a gateway for trade within southern Africa. Lagos provides an inspiring model for industrial and economic transformation,” she said.
She noted that Ohangwena, which is about 80 percent rural and semi-urban, seeks to commercialise its economy and develop key industries capable of serving Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Botswana.
Hamutumwa described Nigeria as a natural partner in achieving this goal and praised Lagos for its leadership role in driving Africa’s urban and economic growth.